In this study, graphite oxide was prepared from natural graphite powder using a modified Hummers method. Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles were synthesized on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) via a simple one-step chemical reduction method in ethylene glycol (EG) by simultaneous reduction of graphene oxide (GO) and chloroplatinic acid. The microstructure, composition, and morphology of the synthesized materials were characterized with Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is shown that the GO was reduced to RGO, and the Pt nanoparticles with an average particle size of 2.3 nm were well dispersed on the surface of RGO. The catalytic performance of the catalysts for methanol oxidation was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and amperometric method, which indicated that Pt/RGO catalyst had higher electrocatalytic activity and stability for the oxidation of methanol than the Pt/C and Pt/CNT catalysts. The If/Ib of Pt/RGO reached 1.3, which was 2.2 and 1.9 times as high as those of Pt/C and Pt/CNT catalysts, respectively, revealing that Pt/RGO had high poisoning tolerance to the COad intermediate species produced in the methanol oxidation reaction.

Fund: The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1404201), National Training Programs of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates (201310462099), Foundation for Young Core Teacher by Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, China (2013XGGJS007), Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Henan Province, China (13A530362), and Doctoral Foundation of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, China (2011BSJJ020).